Cryoprobe with vibrating mechanism

Abstract

Cryoprobes and a cryotherapy method. A cryoprobe includes: a shaft having a central axis, a tip at a first end, a male socket section at a second end opposite the first end, a cryogen feeding pipe extending from the tip through the male socket section along the axis, and a cryogen return passage extending from the tip through the male socket section; and a handle having a female socket adapted and configured to receive and connect with the male socket section in a quick connect manner, a vibration section that selectively causes vibration along the axis, a cryogen exhaust passage extending from the female socket to an exterior of the handle, and a cryogen supply tube connected to the female socket at an end of the tube.

1. A cryoprobe comprising:
 a shaft having a central axis, a tip at a first end, a male socket section at a second end opposite the first end, a cryogen feeding pipe extending from the tip through the male socket section along the axis, and a cryogen return passage extending from the tip through the male socket section; and 
 a handle having a female socket adapted and configured to receive and connect with the male socket section in a quick connect manner, a vibration section that selectively causes vibration along the axis, a cryogen exhaust passage extending from the female socket to an exterior of the handle, and a cryogen supply tube connected to the female socket at an end of the tube, 
 wherein, when the male socket section is received by and connected with the female socket section, the cryogen exhaust passage is in communication with the cryogen return passage, the cryogen supply tube is in communication with the cryogen feeding pipe, and the vibration section selectively causes the male socket section to vibrate along the axis. 
 
     
     
       2. The cryoprobe of  claim 1 , wherein the cryogen supply tube comprises a flexible section at or near the end that permits a change in a length of the cryogen supply tube, and
 wherein the length of the cryogen supply tube cyclically expands and contracts in the lengthwise direction during vibration of the vibration section. 
 
     
     
       3. The cryoprobe of  claim 2 , wherein the flexible section comprises a bellows. 
     
     
       4. The cryoprobe of  claim 2 , wherein the flexible section comprises a flexible helical coil. 
     
     
       5. The cryoprobe of  claim 1 , wherein the socket sections, the cryogen feeding pipe, and the cryogen supply tube are on the axis. 
     
     
       6. The cryoprobe of  claim 1 , wherein the vibration is only along a single axis. 
     
     
       7. The cryoprobe of  claim 1 , wherein the vibration section comprises a pair of concentric bellows with respective internal spaces and lengths that are responsive to changes in pressures in the internal spaces, and wherein changes in the lengths of bellows vibrates the female socket and, in turn, the tip. 
     
     
       8. The cryoprobe of  claim 7 , wherein the concentric bellows are independently responsive to changes in pressures. 
     
     
       9. The cryoprobe of  claim 1 , wherein the vibration section is comprises an expandable bladder that is concentrically disposed about the cryogen supply tube and has a volume that is responsive to changes in internal pressure, and wherein changes in the volume vibrates the female socket and, in turn, the tip. 
     
     
       10. The cryoprobe of  claim 1 , wherein the cryogen supply tube includes a helical coil at or near the end. 
     
     
       11. The cryoprobe of  claim 1 , wherein the vibration section is pneumatically responsive. 
     
     
       12. The cryoprobe of  claim 1 , wherein the vibration section is electromagnetically responsive. 
     
     
       13. The cryoprobe of  claim 1 , wherein the vibration section comprises a magnetorestrictor with a length that changes in response to changes in a supplied current, and wherein changes in length of the magnetorestrictor vibrates the female socket and, in turn, the tip. 
     
     
       14. The cryoprobe of  claim 13 , wherein the magnetorestrictor is cylindrical and surrounds the cryogen supply tube. 
     
     
       15. The cryoprobe of  claim 1 , wherein the vibration section comprises an electric motor that rotates an cam in mechanical communication with a bushing, and wherein rotation of the cam moves the bushing cyclically, which vibrates the female socket and, in turn, the tip. 
     
     
       16. A cryoprobe comprising:
 a rigid shaft having a tip at a distal end, a male socket section at a proximal end, inner and outer passages extending from the tip through the male socket section; and 
 a body having a female socket section that connects with the male socket section, a vibration section that selectively causes axial vibration, a cryogen exhaust passage extending from the female socket to ambient, and a cryogen supply tube connected to the female socket, 
 wherein, when the male and female socket sections are connected, the cryogen exhaust passage is in communication with the outer passage, the cryogen supply tube is in communication with the inner passage, and the vibration section selectively causes the male socket section to vibrate axially. 
 
     
     
       17. A cryotherapy method, comprising:
 vibrating a cryotip of a cryoprobe in an axial direction; 
 positioning the cryotip in a target tissue; and 
 cooling the cryotip, 
 wherein the cryprobe is the cryoprobe of  claim 1 . 
 
     
     
       18. The method of  claim 17 , wherein the positioning occurs during the vibrating. 
     
     
       19. The method of  claim 17 , wherein the vibrating is in only the axial direction due to the arrangement and configuration of the cryoprobe.